PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juan Mata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mata
vs
Shields

182 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Mata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Shields!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mata throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Shields fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mata, pushing him back against the cage.
Shields stalling the fight.
Mata scores with a shot to the side of Shields's head.

Mata manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shields is looking to clinch.
Shields misses with a body kick.

Shields gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mata fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shields tries to land knees in the clinch but Mata avoids the damage to the body.
Mata tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shields tries to pull guard but Mata holds him up against the cage and eventually Shields drops back down to his feet.
Shields tries to work over Mata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Shields is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mata is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shields misses with a knee strike.
Shields tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shields effectively controlling the action here.
Mata stalling.

Mata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mata is looking to clinch.

Shields closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mata is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shields is keeping busy.
Mata has Shields pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shields manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Mata. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shields jumps into guard, dragging Mata to the mat.
Mata trying to control but Shields is working from the bottom.
Mata wants to stand but Shields has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields wants to control but Mata passes easily into half guard.
Shields has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mata is working away from the top position though.
Shields is trying to stand back up but Mata is controlling him
Mata perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Shields is refusing to be controlled, as Mata sits in half guard.
Mata trying to control from Shields's half guard. Shields has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shields is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Mata avoids the elbow strike from Shields, against the cage.

Shields breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shields shoots in for a takedown but Mata shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shields looks gassed!
Shields fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shields tries to close the distance and clinch but Mata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mata tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.
Mata shoots in but no luck this time.
Shields tries for a takedown but Mata sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mata has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields is pressed up against the cage. Mata has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shields down to the mat. Shields avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mata shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shields defends it nicely.
Mata tries to clinch there but Shields circles away.
Mata dodges the punch combination from Shields.
Shields circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mata has Shields up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mata as Shields tries to tie him up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mata tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shields working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anderson Shields will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mata changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shields tries to avoid it but Mata manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shields to the ground. Shields escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Juan Mata is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mata is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mata tries to close the distance and clinch but Shields swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shields falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mata counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mata.
Mata landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mata blocking some punches.
Mata stops a takedown attempt from Shields.
Shields fails to pull guard.

Mata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anderson Shields seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mata closes the distance and pushes Shields back into the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Mata wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shields has him pressed against the cage.
Shields taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mata rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shields moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Shields drives through and clinches with Mata against the cage.

Shields gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Mata is trying to maintain the position but Shields is very close to passing his half guard.

Shields is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mata is just riding it out for now. Shields eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields is breathing heavily.
Shields is keen to just control but Mata is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mata trying to control from the bottom.
Shields is trying to control. Mata wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mata is positioning himself well to prevent Shields advancing to mount.
Mata is looking to control Shields's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mata avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Juan Mata.
Shields keeps the fight on the outside.
Shields is looking to clinch but Mata is avoiding it.

Mata gets tackled into the cage by Shields. Shields maintains the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mata trying to control the position but instead, Shields has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mata into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mata working hard to break the clinch.
Anderson Shields seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mata jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shields walks away with a smile on his face. Mata gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shields shoots in but no luck this time.
Juan Mata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Shields.
Mata shoots for a takedown but Shields saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mata tries to clinch there but Shields circles away.
Shields lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Shields doesn't manage to clinch there - Mata circles away.
Mata has a takedown stuffed.
Mata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mata is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata tries a head kick but it misses.
Shields tries to clinch but Mata moves away

and Mata counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shields's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shields wants to improve his position but instead Mata has moved into half guard.
Mata seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Mata throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Juan Mata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shields tries to kick Mata off but Mata keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Mata gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mata has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Mata dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mata misses with a low kick as Shields jumps back.
Mata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shields paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shields connects with a solid leg kick.
Shields tries to clinch but Mata moves out of range.
Shields misses with a double jab.
Mata tries to clinch but Shields is having none of it.
Shields tries to clinch but Mata moves out of range.
Mata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shields takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Shields tries to clinch but Mata is having none of it.
Mata keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shields is looking to clinch but Mata is avoiding it.
Shields takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shields tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mata swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shields shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mata is trying to defend but Shields finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mata is pressing down on Shields's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shields stops Mata from standing up.

Shields has gone for a leg lock! Mata slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shields's guard.
Mata trying to control the position from guard on top but Shields is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shields wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mata in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Mata drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mata jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shields swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shields trying to keep a closed guard but Mata is proving a slippery customer.
Mata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shields works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mata looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mata throwing strikes from guard but Shields blocks nicely.
Mata in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shields is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mata works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mata postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Shields to stand up.
Mata feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shields's calf.
Mata feints a jab promting Shields to slip. Mata then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shields slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Mata throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shields tries to clinch but Mata moves out of range.
Mata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shields paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mata gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mata stalling the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mata is trying to break free.
Shields tries for a takedown but Mata manages to get underhooks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mata manages to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Mata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mata has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Mata!